Annual Report 2017

Officers Elected in 2017

  • Co-Coordinator: Samuel Duncan, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Research Library
  • Co-Coordinator: Alexandra Reigle, Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library

Activity Highlights

  • Progress: Significant progress toward the migration of Artist Files Revealed: Online Directory from its nonfunctional state to artistfiles.arlisna.org. Completed analysis of best hosting platform and found that the Artist Files SIG’s WordPress site to be the most stable.
  • Progress: Started working with WordPress developer Marc Gratch to create custom application for the directory; analyzed old data structure and created new data structure.
  • Completed: Made significant improvements to artistfiles.arlisna.org in general and included a planning document where all SIG activities can be recorded (http://artistfiles.arlisna.org/planning/)
  •  Pending: Revamped mission statement
  •  Completed: Created an RSS feed option for artistfiles.arlisna.org
  •  Progress: Started two new blog series on the artistfiles.arlisna.org: “Found in the Artist Files” and “Artist Files in Action”
  •  Completed: Rounded up all minutes and reports and posted them on artistfiles.arlisna.org (http://artistfiles.arlisna.org/meetings/)
  •  Completed: Updated artist files resources page (http://artistfiles.arlisna.org/resources/)
  •  Completed: Created leadership history page and placed it in a persistent sidebar on artistfiles.arlisna.org
  • Completed: Deployed Surveymonkey survey to understand use and help determine direction for Artist Files Revealed: Online Directory; survey also addressed MARC
    cataloging and contribution of records to WorldCat
  • Completed: Published article referencing ARLIS/NA artist files SIG in Ephemera Society of American E-News
  • Pending: Developed recommendation for updated MARC artist files coding and content
  • Progress: As of today, there are 301 Artist Files SIG members; all members are now in a shared Google spreadsheet; this list evolved from attendance list at 2017 annual meeting, an export of listserv subscribers, and ongoing notification from renewing their ARLIS/NA memberships.

ARLISNA Strategic Directions

  • Word on new/improved Artist Files Revealed: Online Directory should be added as a component of “Collections and Access” and “Innovation and Technology.”

Issues for Executive Board

  • Question of ongoing commitment to paying for premium faceted searching plugin for our WordPress site to help with searching experience of new artist file directory.
  • Continued tweaks to emails coming from ARLIS/NA from new or renewing members.
  • Need for enhanced member reporting options on www.arlisna.org

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